Love for music spurs savvy student recitals

It was time for seniors Kacie Miller and Sarah Benkert to show what they had learned as music majors in another edition of the Afternoon Recital Series. Miller performed on the flute while Benkert performed on the clarinet on Sunday, Nov. 17 in Mayo Concert Hall.

“I obviously had a love for this art that you saw and molded as I grew as a musician,” Benkert said in her recital thank you letter.

Benkert began the recital with a performance of Carl Maria von Weber’s “Clarinet Concerto No. 1 in F minor,” followed by a performance of Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Sonata in G minor for Flute and Piano” by Miller.

Miller and Benkert’s were often accompanied by Kathy Shanklin and Sally Livingston, respectively, who performed on the piano during most of the performances. Miller then played by herself during her performance of Katherine Hoover’s “Winter Spirits for Solo Flute.”

There was a big audience who came to hear the two seniors perform. Many of its members came to support their peers.

“I came to support Benkert,” said senior political science and journalism double major Jenna Rose, who has known Benkert since middle school. All the same, Rose said she enjoyed both performances greatly.

The girls’ hard work paid off, as they were rewarded with loud applause and recognition after each performance.

“I am grateful that you are all here to support us and that we get to share this day with you,” Miller said in her recital thank you letter.